Since my first day observing in my CT’s classroom, I have definitely noticed her unique teaching style. Her laid-back demeanor and friendly behavior allow the 9th grade students in the five classes to feel at ease and welcomed. This being said, she is also strict with the rules that she sets. The students are more than welcome to joke around with her in the classroom, as long as there is a underlying respectful nature of the jokes. When the respect is gone, so is the freedom and privileges students are used to. This visit I focused on two classes of the same subject, one with a welcoming ambiance and one with a volatile atmosphere between the students.
The first class of Team Science is a class with noticeably immature students. The students are constantly out of their seats, making fun of each other, throwing a variety of objects across the room and even yelling at the teacher and the aid. My CT does absolutely not tolerate this behavior, although she is running out of ideas to enforce her rules. She expressed to me how she is upset by the fact that this class is becoming a stressful environment for not only her to teach in but also the other students to learn in. Primarily, there is one troubled student who is constantly arguing back to the teacher. He tries to get his friends to agree with him, which causes more bad behavior. Lately, the other students are beginning to get annoyed by him, and he is no longer able to get their attention. He is the only one that is continuously getting in trouble for acting out, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down his behavior. I witnessed him cursing not only about the work he was expected to do, but also at being “stuck in this hell hole of a class” under his breath. None of the students were reacting to his behavior, which seemed to only make him more upset.
The second class of Team Science could not be more different. The students are also more immature in this class, but in a friendlier way. These students are more likely to laugh at the word “fart” than to start arguments with the teacher. I have witnessed every single one of these students do their work when told to, including notes from the board and worksheets, with only being reminded once. This class does have some students who speak up, but when they are reprimanded the argument is immediately over and there are no hurt feelings. This class is also almost a whole lesson ahead of the other, since they are able to get through the curriculum easier. The students in this class respect both my CT and myself, and are constantly under control even though there is no Teachers Aid in the room.
The other three classes are much more like the second class I described above, with friendly atmospheres and are able to complete their work. The first Team Class is unique in that I was able to see how one student can ruin a classroom. I understand that this immaturity is very abundant in a 9th grade classroom, but I am not sure how teachers can cope with the stress if it was in every class. I was more “drained” after this one class than I was after the whole day combined. My CT is able to keep the power in the classroom, which is a good and a bad thing. She is able to maintain the attention of the students, while still giving them freedoms that they understand can be taken away if abused. On the other side, she will not give up the power in the classroom to students who do not deserve it, which causes more issues when students are relentless about winning arguments. I definitely want to keep the power in my classroom, but understand that this is much more necessary in 9th grade classes. Being in a 9th grade classroom is constantly a respect and power struggle, which is something I am looking forward to conquering as one of my challenges as a student teacher.
The first class of Team Science is a class with noticeably immature students. The students are constantly out of their seats, making fun of each other, throwing a variety of objects across the room and even yelling at the teacher and the aid. My CT does absolutely not tolerate this behavior, although she is running out of ideas to enforce her rules. She expressed to me how she is upset by the fact that this class is becoming a stressful environment for not only her to teach in but also the other students to learn in. Primarily, there is one troubled student who is constantly arguing back to the teacher. He tries to get his friends to agree with him, which causes more bad behavior. Lately, the other students are beginning to get annoyed by him, and he is no longer able to get their attention. He is the only one that is continuously getting in trouble for acting out, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down his behavior. I witnessed him cursing not only about the work he was expected to do, but also at being “stuck in this hell hole of a class” under his breath. None of the students were reacting to his behavior, which seemed to only make him more upset.
The second class of Team Science could not be more different. The students are also more immature in this class, but in a friendlier way. These students are more likely to laugh at the word “fart” than to start arguments with the teacher. I have witnessed every single one of these students do their work when told to, including notes from the board and worksheets, with only being reminded once. This class does have some students who speak up, but when they are reprimanded the argument is immediately over and there are no hurt feelings. This class is also almost a whole lesson ahead of the other, since they are able to get through the curriculum easier. The students in this class respect both my CT and myself, and are constantly under control even though there is no Teachers Aid in the room.
The other three classes are much more like the second class I described above, with friendly atmospheres and are able to complete their work. The first Team Class is unique in that I was able to see how one student can ruin a classroom. I understand that this immaturity is very abundant in a 9th grade classroom, but I am not sure how teachers can cope with the stress if it was in every class. I was more “drained” after this one class than I was after the whole day combined. My CT is able to keep the power in the classroom, which is a good and a bad thing. She is able to maintain the attention of the students, while still giving them freedoms that they understand can be taken away if abused. On the other side, she will not give up the power in the classroom to students who do not deserve it, which causes more issues when students are relentless about winning arguments. I definitely want to keep the power in my classroom, but understand that this is much more necessary in 9th grade classes. Being in a 9th grade classroom is constantly a respect and power struggle, which is something I am looking forward to conquering as one of my challenges as a student teacher.